Sun screen apparatus for a boat

ABSTRACT

An environmental screen for a boat includes at least one panel extending from a first attachment point on a boat to a second attachment point. A plurality of perforations are disposed through the at least one panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is a United States Non-Provisional Patent Application that relies for priority on U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/101,067, filed on Sep. 29, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an environmental screen for use on a boat. The environmental screen may be employed as a sun screen or as a screen to block other environmental conditions, including rain, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

As may be appreciated by boat users, there are a wide variety of boat types. Some include a central passenger area with an overarching structure referred to in the art as a “radar arch,” because the structure often supports the radar emitter/receiver. Still other boats include a retractable tubular structure that may be raised above the passenger area: this retractable structure and associated cover are often referred to as a “Bimini top.” A further boat type includes a fixed cover, such as a fiberglass cover, supported by several upstanding tubular elements. One further boat type is referred to as a pontoon boat, which may include a cover over at least a part of the passenger area. Other boat types have a roof constructed over a cabin, as in the case of a yacht, for example.

Regardless of the style of the boat, a cover may be desirable both when the boat is in storage and when the boat is in use.

When a boat is in storage, it may be desirable to cover the cabin of the boat to minimize damage from exposure to environmental conditions. For example, a cover may be installed over the cabin of the boat to keep the sun from damaging (i.e., fading) the interior of the cabin with ultraviolet light rays. In addition, a cover may be installed over the cabin or passenger area of the boat to minimize damage from rain, snow, ice, and dirt, for example.

When a boat is in use, it may be desirable to enclose the boat in an environmental screen for similar reasons. For example, it may be desirable to enclose, partially or completely, the cabin so that the passengers may enjoy a respite from the sun or from the rain, for example.

One difficulty that may be appreciated by those skilled in the art is that prior art covers for boats are installed only from the exterior of the craft. As such, these covers do not present a simple, convenient, or easy installation.

Other deficiencies also should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, for which a solution has an increasing demand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is intended to address one or more of the deficiencies noted with respect to the prior art.

For example, the environmental screen of the invention is intended to provide a screen to minimize the effects of exposure to environmental conditions.

In addition, the invention is intended to permit installation from the interior cabin.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be made apparent from the discussion that follows and from the drawings appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in connection with the drawings appended hereto, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective illustration of a bow portion of a boat, illustrating one contemplated embodiment of the sun screen apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of one embodiment of the material contemplated for use with the sun screen of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the environmental screen of the invention, shown attached to a top rail of a windshield; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of a portion of the environmental screen in FIG. 3, showing one contemplated mode of attachment to the top rail of the windshield.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

The invention is described in connection with one or more embodiments. While specific embodiments are described, the invention is not intended to be limited solely to those embodiments. To the contrary, the invention is intended to encompass variations and equivalents that would be contemplated by those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a bow portion of a boat 10 including the environmental screen 12 of the invention. The environmental screen 12 also is referred to herein as a sun screen. As should be appreciated from the description that follows, the environmental screen 12 is intended to fulfill a number of different functions. For example, the environmental screen 12 is intended to minimize exposure of the cabin of the boat 10 to sunlight, rain, etc.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the boat 10 is defined according to standard nautical terms. The bow B, the stern Sn, the port side P, and the starboard side Sd. These four directions are indicated by the legend in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the boat 10 includes a windshield 14 that extends from the port side P to the starboard side Sd. The windshield 14 includes two panels 16, 18 at a central portion thereof. The panels 16, 18 are pivotally connected to the windshield 14 so that the panels 16, 18 may be opened. The panels 16, 28, therefore, form a door 20 that permits passengers to walk from an interior cabin to an exterior passenger area 22. As illustrated, the windshield 14 includes a top rail 24 and a bottom rail 26. The windshield 14 also may include one or more support braces 28 that extend between the top rail 24 and the bottom rail 26.

As also illustrated in FIG. 1, the boat 10 includes a radar arch 30 that extends from the port side P to the starboard side Sd of the boat 10. The radar arch 30 extends upwardly above the cabin. The radar arch 30 includes a forwardly-facing visor 32.

The environmental screen 12 may be a single structure or may comprise a number of parts and/or panels that are connected together in a manner as would be understood by those skilled in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the screen 12 is a single sheet of material that extends from the radar arch 30 to the top rail 24 of the windshield 14. From the top rail 24 of the windshield 14, the screen 12 extends, on the interior of the windshield 14 to the bottom rail 26 or a location on the deck adjacent to the bottom rail 26.

In one contemplated embodiment, the screen 12 is constructed to include one or more transparent panels 34. The transparent panel 34 may be provided to permit the passengers to view a location at the bow B of the boat 10. This transparent panel 34 may be constructed from any suitable material such as a transparent acrylic, polyacrylate, etc. The transparent panel 34 also may be referred to as an “Eisen glass” by those skilled in the art.

The screen 12 also includes one or more panels of perforated material 36. The perforated material 36 includes a plurality of holes 38. The perforated material 36 may be a woven material, such as a canvas, or a non-perforated material, such as a neoprene. As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the perforated material 36 may be any suitable material without departing from the scope of the invention.

The perforated material 36 is relied upon for the invention for several reasons. Among them, the perforated material 36, when installed, permits light to pass therethrough, but discourages the majority of light from reaching the interior of the cabin. This reduces fading of the cabin by ultraviolet light, for example. Generally, the perforated material minimizes the impact of the environment on the cabin of the boat 10, whether from the sun or other environmental sources. As also should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the perforations 38 in the perforated material 36 permits air and moisture to pass through the screen 12, which helps to balance conditions (i.e., humidity) within the interior cabin with the exterior environment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the screen extends from the radar arch 30, around the top rail 24, to the bottom rail 26 or a location adjacent to the bottom rail 26. With respect to the top rail, the screen 12 includes one or more keyholes 40 that engage around one or more protrusions 42 on the interior surface of the top rail 24. As noted, the attachment device in this embodiment lies in the interaction between the protrusions 42 and the keyholes 40.

As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, any other fastening element may be employed instead of the combination of the keyholes 40 and protrusions 42. For example, the screen 12 may be affixed to the interior of the top rail 24 via a suitable fastener arrangement, such as a hook and loop fastening arrangement. Hook and loop fasteners are often referred to as Velcro® fasteners, due to the popular trademark for one brand of these fasteners. Variations on different fastener types are too numerous to list here. These variations and equivalents, however, are considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

With respect to FIGS. 1 and 4, further features of the screen 12 are now discussed. Specifically, the screen may incorporate one or more seam elements 44 that connect various ones of the panels of the screen 12 together. Alternatively, the seam elements 44 may assist with connection of the transparent panel 34 to the screen 12. As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the seam elements 44 may incorporate means, such as fasteners or zippers, to permit panels to be opened or removed, thereby resulting in a modular construction for the screen.

Also illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, an edge element 46 is affixed to the screen 12 at a location adjacent to the top rail 24 of the windshield 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the edge element 46 is affixed to the screen 12 via a threaded connection 48.

As should be apparent, the edge element 46 may be a rigid or semi-rigid element. As a rigid or semi-rigid element, the edge element 46 may more easily and securely form a water repellent guard at the top rail 24 of the windshield. Of course, the edge element 46 also may be made from a woven or non-woven material and may be flexible, without departing from the scope of the invention.

As also should be apparent to those skilled in the art, the edge element 46 is not required to practice the invention. In addition, the edge element 46 need not be attached to the screen 12 via the threaded connection 48. To the contrary, the edge element may be affixed to the screen, either permanently or removably. Moreover, any suitable fastener may be used including, but not limited to, a weld seam, adhesive, a zipper, snap fasteners, buttons, etc.

At or near the radar arch 30, the screen 12 may be affixed to the radar arch 30 (or an adjacent structure) via any suitable fastener, as should be appreciated by those skilled in the art. At or near the bottom rail 26, the screen 12 may be affixed to the bottom rail 26 or to the deck of the boat 10 via any suitable fastener, as should be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

With respect to the attachment point at the top or the bottom of the screen 12 to the boat 10, it is also contemplated that the top or bottom edge of the screen 12 may be provided with a welt that runs along the peripheral seam. The welt may be inserted or slide into a track attached to or incorporated into the structure of the boat 10, as desired.

As noted above, the screen 12 may be manufactured as a single panel or as a combination of multiple panels. In the embodiment where multiple panels are employed, the panels may be affixed to one another by any suitable type of fastener including a zipper, for example. This construction may be preferred in specific installations where the owner may wish to remove one or more panels from the screen during use.

It is contemplated that the screen 12 of the invention may be applied to virtually any style of boat from a mid-sized cruiser to a yacht. In the case of a yacht, the screen 12 may be sized to cover the interior of one or more windshields that enclose one or more cabins.

It is contemplated that the perforated material 36 is constructed with perforations 38 such that 95% or more of the light will be prevented from passing through the material. This percentage is not limiting of the invention, as larger or smaller sized perforations 38 may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the material that is used for the screen 12 may be opaque, translucent, or even transparent, as should be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The translucency of the material 36 will depend upon the particular application.

It is noted that some boaters use their boats as a permanent or as an occasional home, depending upon the size and style of the craft. In the instance where the boater may use the boat for this purpose, the screen 12 also may be employed as a privacy screen, preventing persons on a dock, for example, from peering into the interior of the boat 10. Accordingly, the screen 12 also may function as a security device for a boat 10.

In another contemplated embodiment, the screen 12 is constructed to extend between selected structures on the boat 10. In one contemplated variation, the screen 12 may extend only between, for example, the radar arch 30 and the top rail 24 of the windshield 14. In another contemplated variation, the screen 12 may extend only from the top rail 24 to the bottom rail 26 of the windshield 14.

In still another contemplated embodiment, the screen 12 may be positioned behind both the windshield 14 and also behind a transparent screen, such as the transparent panel 34. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the boat owner may have installed a transparent panel 34 or a series of transparent panels 34 at the bow B of the boat 10, above the windshield 14. As such, the screen 12 of the invention may be installed on the interior of the cabin of the boat, behind the transparent panel 34. In this contemplated embodiment, the screen may act as a curtain behind the transparent panel 34. This particular embodiment may be attractive for other applications where, for example, where the boat 10 includes a solid windshield 14 that extends from a roof to the deck. A yacht or similar type boat 10 presents this particular type of installation condition. As may be appreciated, in this embodiment, the screen 12 is installed entirely in the interior of the boat and, therefore, is not exposed directly to the environment except, perhaps, to any sunlight that passes through either the transparent panel 34 and/or the windshield 14. It is contemplated in this embodiment that an edge element 46 may not be required since the transparent panel 34 is expected to include this feature.

As noted above, the invention is not limited solely to the one or more embodiments described herein. To the contrary, the invention encompasses variations and embodiments that would be understood by those skilled in the art, in view of the description presented above and in view of the drawings and claims appended hereto. 

1. An environmental screen for a boat, comprising: at least one panel extending from a first attachment point on a boat to a second attachment point; and a plurality of perforations through the at least one panel.
 2. The environmental screen of claim 1, wherein the first attachment point is defined by a structure arching over a cabin in the boat.
 3. The environmental screen of claim 2, wherein the second attachment point is defined by a top rail of a windshield.
 4. The environmental screen of claim 3, further comprising: a third attachment point defined by a location at a bottom rail of the windshield.
 5. The environmental screen of claim 3, further comprising: a third attachment point defined adjacent to a bottom rail of the windshield.
 6. The environmental screen of claim 3, wherein the screen attaches to the second attachment point via a plurality of fasteners.
 7. The environmental screen of claim 3, wherein the screen attaches to the second attachment point via cooperation between protrusions on the top rail and keyholes in the at least one panel. 